20 Bedtime Prayers For Kids

Looking for ways to put your child to bed peacefully at night? Use these 20 bedtime prayers for kids to ease their minds and point them to God.

Introducing bedtime prayers to children is one of the best ways parents can nurture their child’s understanding, trust and reliance on God. Getting children into the discipline of praying each night before bed not only builds their faith, but teaches them gratitude, confession, repentance, forgiveness, and much more.

Many of us can remember prayers that we were taught when we were younger. Some of those prayers have continued to stick with us throughout the years, and now we can lead our children in prayer.

Through intentional prayer, we have the opportunity to not only teach our children who God is but who He is for them. He is their guide when they feel lost. He is their light when they are in a dark place. He is their friend when they feel alone or need someone to talk to. And He is their Heavenly Father who cares deeply for them.

I can’t think of a better way to end the day than to set their hearts and minds at rest through prayer. My hope is that these 20 popular bedtime prayers for kids will help you to confidently lead them in prayer.

Bedtime Prayers for Kids

Father, We Thank Thee

Rebecca J. Weston, 1885

Father, We thank thee for the night,

And for the pleasant morning light;

For rest and food and loving care,

And all that makes the day so fair.

Help us to do the things we should,

To be to others kind and good;

In all we do, in work or play,

To grow more loving every day.

The Day is Done

Patty Caroline Dunsterville

The day is done;

O God the Son,

Look down upon Thy little one!

O Light of Light,

Keep me this night,

And shed round me

Thy presence bright.

I need not fear

If Thou art near;

Thou art my Savior

Kind and dear.

Heavenly Father

From Little Folded Hands: Prayers for Children, St Louis, Concordia Publishing House, 1921)

In my little bed I lie

Heavenly Father, hear my cry;

Lord, keep Thou me through this night.

Bring me safe to morning light. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.

Lord Be Beside Us

Lord be beside us, all every day

Guiding and leading us gently always.

Lord be above us, help us to see

The hope of the future, of all we could be.

Lord be beneath us, carry us when

We’re too shattered or tired to really have strength.

Lord be ahead of us, smoothing our paths

Protecting and blessing the places we pass.

Lord be behind us, healing our wounds,

Forgiving our mistakes and making us new.

Lord, be within us, this family is yours

Now and forever, you are our Lord.

God, My Friend

Michael J. Edger III MS

God, my friend, it is time for bed,

Time to rest my sleepy head,

I pray to you before I do,

Please guide me down the path that’s true.

God, my friend, please bless my mother,

All your children – sisters, brothers.

Oh! And then there’s daddy, too –

He says I am his gift from you.

God, my friend, it is time to sleep,

I thank you for a soul unique,

And thank you for another day,

To run and jump and laugh and play! God, my friend, it is time to go,

But before I do I hope you know,

I am thankful for my blessing, too,

And God, my friend, I love you.

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

New England Primer

Now I lay me down to sleep.

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

May God guard me through the night,

And wake me with the morning’s light. Amen.

Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

May the angels watch me through the night

And keep me in their blessed sight. Amen.

Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

If I should live another day,

I pray the Lord to guide my way. Amen.

Hurry to Pray

Mary Fairchild 

I won’t fret and I won’t worry,

Instead, I’ll hurry to pray,

I’ll turn my problems into petitions,

And lift my hands in praise.

I’ll say goodbye to all my fears,

His presence sets me free,

Although I may not understand,

I feel God’s peace in me. Amen.

Thank You God, for Loving Me!

The sun is setting, dear Father, and it’s time to go to bed.

Thank you, God, for loving me from my toesies to my head.

Tomorrow will be another fun and silly and busy day.

Please keep me safe as I run and jump and giggle and sing and play.

Hi, It’s Me!

Hi, it’s me, just come to pray

And thank you for a fun-filled day!

You’ve been with me, so I know you’ve seen

All the great exciting things.

But also when I’m sad or cross

I know you love me, no matter what!

So help me rest and go to sleep

And feel the peace of your love for me.

God is Near

Marie Bostwick, Ties That Bind

I hear no voice, I feel no touch,

I see no glory bright;

But yet I know that God is near,

In darkness as in light,

He watches ever by my side,

And hears my whispered prayer,

The Father for His little child,

Both night and day doth care.

Counting My Blessings

I count my blessings, God, 1-2-3-4,

Mommy, Daddy, friends and even more!

With my warm, snuggly bed and my cuddly, brown bear,

I might be the luckiest kid anywhere!

Lord in Heaven

Lord in heaven, hear my prayer,
Keep me in your loving care.
Be my guide in all I do.
Bless all those who love me, too. Amen.

Lord, Send Me Sleep That I May Live

From Little Folded Hands: Prayers for Children, St Louis, Concordia Publishing House, 1921)

Lord, send me sleep that I may live,

The wrongs I’ve done this day forgive.

Bless every deed and thought and word,

I’ve rightly done, or said, or heard.

Bless relatives and friends always,

Teach all the world to watch and pray.

My thanks for all my blessings take,

And hear my prayer for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

The Lord is My Shepherd

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Help Me Feel Safe in the Dark

Dear God,

When the lights go out and Mom and Dad say goodnight, I sometimes feel worried; it gives me a lil’ fright!
I know I am safe, but the room feels scary,
As I toss and I turn, feeling a lil’ wary.

Help me feel safe, help me to see
That even in the dark you are here with me.
Help me fall asleep and sleep the whole night through Knowing you’ll always love me, as I love you.

All Creatures Great and Small

The tiny, yellow chick says, “tweet, tweet, tweet,”

And the black-spotted cow says, “moo.”

The fluffy, brown dog says “woof, woof, woof,”

And the wise, old owl says, “hoo!”

From the very, tall giraffe to the fishies in the sea,

All your creatures great and small,

Thank you, dear God, for each and every animal,

We know you made them all!

Now the Light Has Gone Away

Adapted from the hymn by Frances R. Havergal

Now the light has gone away, Savior, listen while I pray.

Asking Thee to watch and keep and to send me quiet sleep.

Jesus, Savior, wash away all that has been wrong today.

Help me every day to be good and gentle, more like Thee.

Let my near and dear ones be always near and dear to Thee.

Oh bring me and all I love to Thy happy home above.

Thank You God, for Your Forever Love

As the moon shines high above,

God, thank you for your forever love.

You’re always so near and dear to me,

And in my heart, you’ll always be.

Twinkling stars, too many to say

How you were able to make them that way.

But I know your love is like the sky.

It’s big and wide and low and high.

Whether I’m happy or angry or sad,

You’ll always love me, so that makes me glad.

No matter if I’m good or bad or okay,

You’ll love me as I am anyway!

Jesus, Tender Shepherd

Mary Duncan

Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me:

Bless Thy little child tonight;

Through the darkness be Thou near me,

Keep me safe till morning light.

All this day Thy hand has led me,

And I thank Thee for Thy care;

Thou hast warmed me, clothed me, fed me,

Listen to my evening prayer.

May my sins be all forgiven,

Bless the friends I love so well;

Take me, Lord, at last to heaven,

Happy there with Thee to dwell.

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